Illuminating mirror



July 27, 1943. J. E. CLEVE ILLUMI'NATING MIRROR Fiied nec/15, 1959 um w mw\ lmlwlm umlmmllll uml .L N ASN IIImH INI/ EN TOR.

.fab/7 E. (leve Patented July 27, 1943 fi-` UNITED STATES i PTEN f FFC? f `1LLUimNA'rINd MIRROR 'f I. A, John E. Cleve, Hayward, Calif., Application December 15, 1939, serial No. 309,401

v1 Claim. (o1. 240V-4.2)

My invention relates to mirrors, particularly mirrors of Various sizes which are used for viewing the person.

The object of my invention is to provide a mirror in combination with a source of light which is utilized to illuminate the person Viewing himself in the mirror by means of the reflecting surface of the mirror itself.

Another object is to provide an illuminating mirror which can be constructed as a unit which can be carried in a small case or mounted on theside of a handbag. v

Other objects will appear after a disclosure of devices embodying the invention when it will be* come apparent that such illuminating mirrors can be constructed to have a wide variety of uses.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of one embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section thereof, as indicated by the arrows 2-2 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a rear view thereof with .a part broken away.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of the upper portion of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary front elevation of a second embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse section thereof, .as indicated by the arrows 6-6 in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged view of the upper portion of Fig, 6.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. '7 of a third embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 9 is a vertical section of a case with an illuminating mirror of my invention mounted" therein.

Fig. 10 is a view'of a handbag showing one of my illuminating mirror units mounted therein.

The embodiment disclosed in Figs. 1 to 4 Will be described first. It comprises a plate of glass having a beveled edge 2|. The rear face of the glass is silvered as indicated at 22. The entire rear surfaceis provided with this reflecting surface except for the area 23 which acts as a window through which rays of light from the lamp 24 pass. The lamp 24 is suitably mounted in a reflector 25 formed in or attached to a strip of metal 26 which extends across the top of the glass and is attached to or merges with the sheet Vmetal binding 21 which encompasses the edges of the glass as a protecting frame. The beveled edge 2l of the glass is also silvered to give it a reflecting surface as indicated at 28.

The operation of this device is as follows: Rays of light issuing from the lamp 24 are directed p or plane of the glass.

with the aid ofthe reflector 25 through the window 23 onto the reflecting surface 28'of the beveled edge 2| from which the rays of light are reflected downwardly through the glass onto the reflecting rear surface 22 from Which they are reflected through the front of the glass 20 onto the person viewing himself in the mirror and thus provide an illumination by means of which he may View himself. In this manner the mirror performs the double function of reecting the illumination and also the image of the person. The source of illumination remains concealed so that no annoying glare of light is received in the persons eyes.

In the embodiment disclosed in Figs. 5 to 'l I employ a relatively thinner plate or sheet of glass 30 which is silvered on the rear face 3l except for a window 32 to permit the rays of light from the lamp 33 to pass through to a reflector 34 which can be constructed of metal and arranged at an angle to the front surface Preferably the reflector 34 is formed integrally with a strip 36 extending across the top of the glass which strip is part of the frame 31.

The principle of operation of this embodiment is substantially identical with that of the first embodiment. Its advantage is that it permits use of thinner glass to reduce weight and also provides a more economical construction.

The third embodiment disclosed in Fig. 8 contemplates the use of a prismatic section of glass 40 the rear face 4I of which is clear to admit rays of light from the lamp 42. face 43 is silvered as indicated at 44 to reflect the rays down onto the silvered rear surface 45 of` the mirror glass 46. The prismatic section 40 may be separate from the glass 46 or cast integrally therewith. This construction obtains a greater diffusion of light over the mirror surface 45.

While I have shown a reflecting surface at the top edge of the mirror in these embodiments it will be obvious that the reflecting surface could be at any or all edges of the glass, or positioned centrally thereof. Also, the glass could be of any size or shape.

However, one of the preferred applications of my illuminating mirror is in a small unit construction such as that indicated generally at 50 in Fig. 9 where it is contained in a small case or compact 5I having a front cover 52 hinged at 53 to the bottom of the frame 54 of the mirror unit and provided with a catch 55 for engaging in a depression 56 in the top of the frame 54. Make- The front inclined up accessories, such as lip stick 5l and rouge or powder 58 can be carried inside the front cover 52. A Ibattery 59 for lighting the lamp Bi) in the Vmirror unit 5D can bemounted on the back cover 6I and provided with a switch indicated'at 52 for Y turning the lamp on and off. The back cover 5l provided with a switch 'i2 can be attached as by a pin VI3 to the inner side ofV a handbagl 'M The advantages and utility of these applications are thought to be obvious.

Such a device Y Having disclosed my invention and the manner in which it is to be used, I claim:

An illuminating mirror construction comprising, a plate glass mirror, means at the margin of said mirror to provide a flat reecting surface disposed in front of and at a fixed angle to the rear face of said mirror, a source of light disposed behind said mirror in alignment with said flat reecting surface and a housing for said source of light supported so as to have the rays from said 'source of light issue forwardly onto said reilecting surface, said surface reflecting substantially is of great convenience to women who desire the p all said rays rearwardly into said mirror, said Amirror reflecting said rays forwardly onto the face of the person viewing himself in said mirror, said rays reiiected from said mirror being the only rays which reach the persons face from said I source of light. 20

JOHN E. CLEVE. 

